Veronica Ramirez: Psychology Major to PhD student
Veronica Ramirez graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from USD in 2016. She is currently a PhD student at the University of...
Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
Virtual Honors Convocation
Alumna Mary Kuckertz Accepted Into Graduate School
Professor Getz Adds Personal Touch to Remote Learning
"This has been a large adjustment for everyone, but I think as a community we are doing a great job!"
Spring 2020 Advising FAQ
Kristen McCabe Awarded University Professorship
A University Professorship is the highest individual award that can be bestowed to a USD faculty member.
Darlene Ngo Accepted to PhD Clinical Psychology Program
This fall I will begin pursuing my PhD in Clinical Psychology with a Forensic emphasis at the University of North Texas
One Step Closer to Nurse Practitioner
Since graduating in 2016, Karishma's psychology degree has opened many doors.
Stephanie Misko Presents at SACNAS
Stephanie Misko presented her current research, "Exploring the relationship between Instagram Appearance Anxiety and related constructs"...
Psychological Sciences Professors Contribute Chapter in Book
Psychological Sciences professors Patricia Kowalski, PhD and Annette Taylor, PhD contributed a chapter in the recently published...
CUTA Research Sparks Interest in Psychology Student
Psychology senior Amanda Holbrook assists with research at the SDSU Center for Understanding and Treating Anxiety (CUTA). During her time...
Alumni Ellie Petty's Blog on the Peace Corps
Ellie Petty, a behavioral neuroscience alumni from the USD Class of 2019, has spent the past few months of her post-graduate career...
Mairead Nolan and Dr. Wanic on Trades Between Teams
Psychology professor Rebekah Wanic and student Mairead Nolan recently published an article called Showing Up and Showing Off on...
Dr. Joanna Peters Credits Dr. Galvan as Inspiration
Dr. Joanna Peters, a psychology alumni from the USD Class of 2008, credits Dr. Galvan to be a huge support and influence on her career.
Research Publication by Dr. Weyant
Dr. Weyant, a USD psychology professor, has recently been published in the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences.
Office Hours: Jena Hales, PhD
Learn more about Dr. Hales and other outstanding USD faculty through our ongoing Office Hours video series featuring casual conversations...
Psychological Sciences: Study Abroad Courses
The University of San Diego's Study Abroad Program allows undergraduate students to live and study in a multitude of different...
Summer Scholars Showcase Research at Colloquium
The second annual Summer Research Colloquium concluded the summer scholars’ program for 2019.
Neuroscience PURE Student Victoria Cendejas
PURE student Behavioral Neuroscience major, Victoria Cendejas
Department of Psychological Sciences
The objective of USD's Department of Psychological Sciences is to advance student understanding of psychology and behavioral neuroscience as a science, a profession and a means of promoting human welfare.
Why Choose Psychological Sciences at USD?
Advance your understanding of psychology as a science, a profession and a means of promoting the welfare of human and animal species with a degree in psychology or behavioral neuroscience.
Advanced Research Environment
Faculty actively pursue their own research, and you'll have the opportunity to benefit from their unique, distinguished experience in the lab and have co-publication opportunities or conduct your own research projects.
Real-World Experiences
With small class sizes and collaborative research projects, you'll gain tangible experiences in the lab and field that help deepen your understanding of complex topics.
Solid Communications Skills
You'll have the opportunity to present your research at conferences, as well as on campus at Creative Collaborations. This leads to the solid presentation and communication skills that employers are looking for.
Connect Beyond the Classroom
Learn from guest experts who present advanced psychological concepts to augment classwork, student research and faculty research.
Recent Spotlights
Psychological Sciences Alumni Rita Taylor's Post-Graduate Work
October 16, 2020
Rita Taylor is an alumna of the Department of Psychological Sciences and now works at Sharp Healthcare as an Institutional Review Board (IRB) speciali…
Behavioral Neuroscience Alumni Kiran Long-Iyer Continues Education at UC Davis
October 2, 2020
Kiran Long-Iyer is an alumni from the Department of Psychological Sciences who studied Behavioral Neuroscience. She is now a graduate student at the U…
Interview with Veronica Galvan on the “Train Your Brain” Workshop
October 2, 2020
Veronica Galvan, PhD had the opportunity to host a workshop with the Military and Veterans Program to discuss her knowledge on memory. Dr. Galvan&rsqu…
Professor Emeritus Ken Keith Shares Teaching Philosophies
October 1, 2020
Ken Keith, PhD, professor emeritus of psychological sciences at USD, shares his experiences as a professor to the Society for the Teaching of Psycholo…
Rebekah Wanic Receives 2020 Lecturer Award for Outstanding Teaching
September 11, 2020
Psychological Sciences professor Rebekah Wanic, PhD along with Theology and Religious Studies professor Kate DeConinck, were recently awarde…
Upcoming Events
Bridges Academy: The New Foundation: Exploring Human Psychology from an Evolutionary Perspective
Tuesday, November 10, 2020 // 10 a.m.Virtual Event
@USDPsychology on Facebook
-
There was a problem retrieving the post. Please visit Facebook to view this post. read more -
There was a problem retrieving the post. Please visit Facebook to view this post. read more -
Rita Taylor:
Alumna, Department of Psychological Sciences
1. Describe your current position?
I am an Institutional Review Board (IRB) Specialist at Sharp HealthCare. An Institutional Review Board is a federally mandated committee made up of volunteers who review research to determine if it follows the ethical principles and federal regulations for the protection of human subjects. I am a voting member of the committee, as well as one of two specialists who handle the day to day operations of the committee.
2. Can you describe the research projects you are reviewing?
The majority of the research projects the Sharp HealthCare IRB reviews are industry-sponsored clinical trials - my focus is on cardiology, neonatology, behavioral health, and nephrology. Of late, we have also reviewed many COVID-19 treatment protocols as these are the main source of treatment for COVID-19 inpatients at Sharp HealthCare. In addition to industry-sponsored clinical trials, we also review the graduate research projects of pharmacy residents and nursing students, which often consist of retrospective chart reviews and/or quality improvement projects. Many of the nursing projects come from Sharp employees who are pursuing their MSN or PhD in nursing from the Hahn School of Nursing. Because they use Sharp employees or patients for their projects, they often have to submit to both the USD IRB and the Sharp HealthCare IRB.
3. How did your undergrad education at USD prepare you for this position?
I first learned about the history of Institutional Review Boards in my Introduction to Psychology class my freshman year. My sophomore year, I began working in Dr. Koenig's lab and assisting with her research projects. There, I learned more about human subject protections in research and I saw firsthand how the requirements of the IRB and the federal regulations are put into practice during the conduct of a research project, such as obtaining informed consent and debriefing subjects after participation that involves deceit, as is common in social science studies. My senior year, I designed my own study for my honors thesis and had to obtain USD IRB's approval prior to beginning my research. When I was offered the position of IRB Specialist at Sharp HealthCare, I was grateful to have already had experience with IRBs and research due to my education at USD. Additionally, my undergraduate research experience has been incredibly important in helping me understand the perspective of the researcher, which is invaluable in my job due to the high level of collaboration that is required in the researcher-IRB relationship.
- Rita read more
Department of Psychological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
Contact Us Email
Visit Campus Map
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110